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Mason Younger – British Gymnastics’ Star Volunteer

The Epitome of a First-Class Volunteer

Mason Younger is the epitome of what a good volunteer should be. In fact, he’s the brightest of beacons in terms of selfless dedication, great character and personal sacrifice. So much so, this wonderful 18-year-old has been recognised at the recent 2018 Trampoline, Tumbling and DMT British Championships for his incredible dedication to volunteering in recent years. This very likeable young man has volunteered at nearly every British Gymnastics event for the past four years, regularly giving up his weekends. It’s clearly something he loves, and this year alone Mason has volunteered at 11 separate British Gymnastics events and was most recently involved as a volunteer for two weeks in Glasgow for the European Championships. For him, it’s a total labour of love.

A Priceless Presentation

Back in Birmingham Mason was presented with a commemorative framed poster of the event, signed by all of the senior trampoline gymnasts. But it became even better when the youngster was also given a photo montage of the events he helped at which was signed and autographed by those he volunteered with.

It was a truly wonderful moment and one he fully appreciated; Mason said: “It’s amazing to be recognised for the volunteering I’ve done. That’s not the reason I volunteer, but it is great to be recognised. I just enjoy the experience of volunteering with a team and the opportunities that come with it. I really want to keep volunteering with British Gymnastics as they’re great to work with.”

Earning Respect

Geoff Grant, Volunteer Manager at British Gymnastics, presented the award to Mason and said: “We wanted to recognise the diligence, hard work, commitment and enthusiasm Mason has brought to every event he has volunteered at. He is professional, knowledgeable and a really positive role model for others to aspire to.

“On top of all that, he is a genuinely lovely guy, who you will never hear a bad word said about, from volunteers right across the disciplines.”

Both Olympic silver medallist Bryony Page and last year’s senior women’s trampoline champion Laura Gallagher were among those gymnasts who thanked him for his efforts. And of course, this is one of the great things about gymnastics – you are part of a vibrant family and a friend to all the athletes.

Why Not Become a Volunteer?

There are more than 1400 gymnastics clubs throughout the UK offering both a gateway into the sport and a chance to make a difference in people’s lives. As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to share in long-term success, make new friends and help the community. What’s more, you’ll get all the guidance and help possible to make the experience extremely fulfilling.

There’s a full range of roles too – you could be assisting with that all-important admin, coming up with fund-raising ideas and events or begin the journey into coaching. Each role is invaluable, and clubs are always looking for volunteers they can rely on.

Get Involved in Major Events

There are more than 40 national events in the UK each year, along with lots of club, county and regional competitions. All of them need volunteers – you might even be assisting the event’s team and coaches on the competition floor or registration desk, or collating results. It doesn’t matter what skill set you have, there will certainly be a role for you somewhere. And with events in mind, you can really feel part of something, as well as enjoying the excitement it all brings. You don’t need any previous experience either, and by becoming a regular event volunteer, you’ll also open the door to more opportunities. British Gymnastics hold back a number of volunteer spaces for individuals who have volunteered at local and regional events annually.

Wise Heads

With the committee side of things in mind, it’s not vital to have a full understanding of the sport (though it helps, of course). Having an understanding of leadership, finance and communication can prove invaluable to many groups or clubs.

Your Club Needs You

As the sport salutes Mason Younger, it’s clear that volunteers are an essential part of gymnastics. So why not get involved and make a difference too?

If you would like to volunteer at a club, serve on a committee or at a future British Gymnastics event, you can find out more at www.britishgymnastics.org

Does your gymnastics club spend too much time on admin? If so, Gymnastics Club Manager can help.

Typically, we help our clients reduce their time spent on admin by 80% and drastically improve their cash flow.